- The opening video packaged previewed tonight’s Smackdown (have they done away with the Smackdown opening?), where we’ll find out the remaining three wrestlers who will compete in the World Title Elimination Chamber. We also saw Alberto Del Rio’s hotel attack on Big Show Monday night as the voice-over wondered whether the two would make it to the Chamber PPV.

- Outside the arena, a bus pulled up. A man walked out, then Big Show did the same. Show insulted the man (who turned out to be the driver), and then walked briskly into the arena.

- Smackdown Open. I believe this is the first one with the new theme song, and that theme song has been around for a few months.

- Big Show walked to the ring. JBL and Josh Mathews were shown on-camera as Show came to the ring. JBL mentioned Del Rio being suspended by Smackdown GM Booker T. Show complained about how he’s been treated lately and said he may be unpopular, but it doesn’t mean he should’ve been forced to put his World Title on the line in a Last Man Standing match with no notice. Show chided the fans for cheering Del Rio, who acted like a criminal. He said it just goes to show that when you’re popular, you can do anything you want. Show continued his outrage at the fans for cheering Del Rio while calling him a coward and telling him he sucks. He said he did sign a contract for a title match with Del Rio at Elimination Chamber and the championship will be coming back to him. Show said Booker T. is jealous of everything about him. Booker’s music interrupted and he walked out.

“What is your problem, Big Show?” asked Booker. Booker said neither he nor Del Rio like bullies, yet Show continued to bully Ricardo Rodriguez. Show demanded to know who gave Del Rio his hotel information. Booker denied the accusation. He said he treats everyone equally, which is why he suspended Del Rio. Show didn’t care about that, but still wanted to know who gave out his hotel info. Book said anyone at the hotel could’ve given out that info. He said Show shouldn’t be concerned with him, but rather, with his opponent for tonight. Show was offended that Booker hadn’t warned him of a match ahead of time. Booker said Show knows his opponent well, as it’s someone he has done battles with this year. The good news: Show’s opponent lost his match on Raw. The bad news: He’s in a bad mood and wants to impress Booker to get in the Elimination Chamber. That man is Kane. Show was livid. Booker finished the segment with his catchphrase.

- Still to come tonight, John Cena called out The Shield on Monday Night Raw. We’ll see clips of what went down earlier in the week.

[Commercial Break]

1 – KOFI KINGSTON vs. CODY RHODES

JBL noted that both Rodriguez and Del Rio Tweeted they’d be in the building for Smackdown despite Del Rio’s suspension. Rhodes found himself outside the ring and Kingston dropkicked him through the ropes. Back in, Kingston missed a corner dive and Rhodes made a cover for a one-count. Kofi made his comeback and hit a springboard cross-body for two. Kingston missed the Trouble in Paradise. He countered Cross Rhodes but again caught air on his finisher. Rhodes tossed Kofi out of the ring and hit the Disaster Kick with Kofi on the apron. Kingston was brought back in and was finished with Cross-Rhodes.

WINNER: Rhodes, at 3:30. Good win for Cody, but Kingston continues his downward slide. He did cram a lot of athleticism to the three-and-a-half minutes, though.

Replays of the match aired, then it was back to JBL and Mathews on commentary. They talked about Cody’s break-up with Damien Sandow, and transitioned to problems between Team Hell No. They aired the finish of Sheamus vs. Kane from Monday night, and Bryan vs. Sandow from Main Event, when each man caused the other to lose their respective matches.

- Kane was sitting at his locker backstage. Bryan walked up and apologized again for what happened on Raw. He didn’t come to argue about what happened on Main Event. Kane accepted the apology and ordered Bryan out. Bryan said he thinks Kane cost him the match on Main Event because he’s already in the Elimination Chamber match, and Kane isn’t. So he forgave him for that. And he offered to come to the ring for Kane’s match with Big Show tonight. He cited a theoretical psychological advantage. Kane wasn’t having it. He shushed Bryan and said the next word out of his mouth will be “congratulations,” after he chokeslams Show into oblivion.

- Next, and update on Vince McMahon’s condition.

[Commercial Break]

- The exterior of the Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville was shown.

- Mathews sent it to footage from two weeks ago of Mr. McMahon falling victim to the F5. JBL claimed it was the most disturbing thing he’d ever seen in a WWE ring. Mathews said McMahon underwent successful hip surgery, though there is no timetable for his return. Then we saw footage of Paul Heyman’s promo on MizTV Monday night, as well as Lesnar’s attack on The Miz.

- They showed a graphic of the ESPN.com story, which broke the news of Bruno Sammartino finally agreeing to be inducted into the WWE Hall-of-Fame. His HOF video package followed.

- Mathews, in the worst transition in the history of transitions, said following the Sammartino package, “…here comes a future Hall-of-Famer,” as Great Khali’s music played, bringing him, Natalya, and Hornswoggle to the ring. Luckily, JBL called him out for that comment as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

2 – THE GREAT KHALI vs. TITUS O’NEIL

O’Neil was finishing up his entrance back from break. Khali chopped O’Neil in the head, then in the chest. Teddy Long and Booker T. were shown watching the match backstage because Khali, being a former World Champion, is eligible for the upcoming Elimination Chamber match. O’Neil got Khali off his feet and even went for a pin, to no avail. Overhand chop, however, put O’Neil down for the three-count.

WINNER: Khali, at 1:32. As I said last week, if all things are equal, Khali won two short, decisive matches in consecutive weeks, so in theory, he should be a top contender for the Chamber. Not that I want it to happen

As Khali and the others danced, Mark Henry walked to the ring with a purpose. Henry tossed O’Neil into the barricade on the outside. In the ring, Khali went after Henry, but didn’t get much offense in before Henry splashed Khali in the corner. Chop took Henry down to one knee. Khali signaled for a Punjabi Plunge, but Henry fought way from it. He gave Khali the World’s Strongest Slam.

[Commercial Break]

- A replay of Henry’s attack on O’Neil and Khali was shown.

- Henry was still in the ring. He said “The Hall of Pain is now open.” He said he was bent on destruction and asked if there were any questions. He said Khali and Titus didn’t have any questions. And Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara on Raw, if they had any questions, he answered every last one of them. Henry’s Raw return was replayed. “That is what I do!” shouted Henry. He said all of this could’ve been avoided, but, you guessed it…it was Booker T.’s fault. He said Booker assembled an elite group of World Champions to be in the Elimination Chamber, but he didn’t include the World’s Strongest Man. He said it was a critical time to overlook him, and he wants an explanation. And if he doesn’t get one, he’ll destroy the entire Smackdown roster. Booker walked out with no music and said Henry can’t just attack everyone and think he’s going to impress the Smackdown brass. Henry said if Booker doesn’t make room in the Chamber for him, then he’ll have to make room for himself. He said he would injure enough people to where he’d be the only one in the Chamber. Booker said Henry has been out nine months and he needs to know if Henry can still go. So he set him up with a match with a guy already in the Chamber: Randy Orton. Henry’s slam on Khali was again replayed as Booker’s music played him to the back.

- Outside the arena, Show’s driver was cleaning the bus when Show complained about the temperature inside the bus and the steak that was cooked. Show continued to intimidate the driver, who apologized profusely. Oh, and the toilet was clogged too. Show mumbled to himself as he walked into the arena. Alberto Del Rio walked out from behind a trailer and smiled as he looked at Show’s bus.

3 – KANE vs. THE BIG SHOW

During Show’s entrance, they showed Show’s promo on Raw, as well as him signing the contract and being attacked by Del Rio. Show came off the ropes and Kane met him with a low dropkick. Show came back by wrapping Kane’s leg around the ring post. Booker and Long were watching this match on a monitor as well. Show speared Kane was they went to break at 1:43 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 4:49 of the match with Show still in control. He did miss a Vader Bomb, however. Both men went for chokeslams, with neither getting the advantage. DDT by Kane, however, led to an opening. Kane tweaked his knee coming off the top rope with a clothesline. The ensuing hesitation allowed Show to hit the knockout punch for the win.

WINNER: Show, at 6:43. These Show vs. Kane matches aren’t getting any easier to watch as the competitors age.

Del Rio appeared on the TitanTron and said he made a new friend in Show’s driver. He said the man told him everything that Show has put him through. Del Rio happily remarked that he made a few changes to the bus and encouraged Show to come out and see them. He better not have touched that steak! Show reached the bus only to find the wheels missing, the bus propped up on cinderblocks. Show was then doused with some sort of orange paint, courtesy of Del Rio, who was standing atop the bus. Del Rio then hopped onto a “Road Squad” truck and said if Show needs tires, he knows a guy. Rodriguez drove away with Del Rio on the truck. This is like a bad Big Show nightmare.

[Commercial Break]

4 – JACK SWAGGER vs. JUSTIN GABRIEL

Swagger did an inset interview, saying a Real American doesn’t take handouts…he takes what he wants. He said he’ll show Booker why the Elimination Chamber match needs Jack Swagger. No entrance for Gabriel. Roll-up by Gabriel, who was then turned inside-out from a clothesline. It was no Marty Jannetty 360 degree clothesline sell, but it was close. Beal out of the corner, then a Vader bomb. Gabriel got his feet up on a charge and hit a springboard cross-body. He went for another springboard move onto Swagger outside the ring, but Swagger pulled Gabriel’s foot, sending him head-first into the apron. Back in the ring, gutwrench powerbomb then an ankle-lock for the submission win.

WINNER: Swagger, via submission, at 2:31. Swagger probably has a higher ceiling than Gabriel, at least in the short-term, so I was okay with Gabriel being used to put Swagger over.

- A video package aired showing WWE Superstars Natalya, Brodus Clay, and Alicia Fox reading to kids. It was all part of WWE’s Reading Superstar Challenge.

- Tonight’s main event: Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry.

[Commercial Break]

- A Fandango vignette aired. He looked like a video game character.

5 – DREW MCINTYRE vs. TENSAI

They replayed Tensai’s embarrassment from Raw two weeks ago. Running big boot floored Tensai. McIntyre made the mistake of slapping Tensai, which caused the big man to unload on the 3MB member. Tree slam by TEnsai, though he lost grip on McIntyre halfway down. The rest of 3MB made the save for the DQ.

As 3MB attacked, Brodus Clay ran down to make the save. The Funkettes were there as well. Clay’s music played once the ring had been cleared and the ladies did their best to convince Tensai to dance. He finally broke down and cut a rug with Clay, Naomi, and Cameron.

- Still to come, Orton vs. Henry.

[Commercial Break]

6 – SIN CARA vs. ANTONIO CESARO

Cara’s mood lighting was in effect. Cara tried a top-rope move, but Cesaro brought him down arm-first across the top rope. Gutwrench suplex, then a double-stomp to the chest. Cesaro ran into a boot and Cara fluidly flipped Cesaro into a pinning combination. He then dove onto Cesaro outside the ring. Springboard by Cara, but right into a big uppercut. The Neutralizer finished things.

WINNER: Cesaro, at 2:20. They’ve worked well together in the past, and this match was no exception.

- Matt Striker interviewed Randy Orton backstage. Orton seemed bemused by Henry getting whatever he wants upon his return. He said Henry hits a roadblock tonight against him. He said if Henry isn’t careful, he’ll put him back on the shelf.

- Next, from Raw, Cena calls out The Shield.

[Commercial Break]

- Mathews thanked Stellar Revival for “The Crazy Ones,” the official theme to the Elimination Chamber.

- Matt Striker caught up with The Miz backstage. Striker asked Miz how he’s doing after the attack by Lesnar. Miz said he’s been through a lot of intense situations in WWE, but looking into Brock Lesnar’s eyes, he saw something completely different. Cesaro walked up to interrupt and accused Miz of whining and complaining after sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. Miz said maybe he should start sticking his nose where it does belong. He began to brawl with Cesaro until referees came onto the scene to break it up.

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- Back to Mathews and JBL, who showed a WWE.com exclusive from after Raw went off the air, where John Cena announced that he would team up with Sheamus and Ryback to take on The Shield at Elimination Chamber.

- Mark Henry and Randy Orton were walking in a split screen. Their match is next.

[Commercial Break]

7 – RANDY ORTON vs. MARK HENRY

During Henry’s entrance, they again replayed Henry’s slam of Khali from earlier in the evening. Mathews said Henry has never been in an Elimination Chamber match, which I find quite surprising. Henry tossed Orton out of the ring and gave him a forearm to the back. Henry lifted Orton onto his shoulders, but Orton escaped, sending Henry face-first into the ring post. He managed to make it back in, showing few ill effects. Orton found himself seated on the top rope, and Henry knocked him off with a simple clubbing blow. Back in the ring, Henry stood on the chest of Orton. Orton got to his feet, but Henry headbutted him. Orton waved Henry toward him and delivered a clothesline. Rope-assisted DDT, which Henry was very gracious in obviously aiding Orton in getting himself in position. Orton set up for the RKO, but Henry countered and splashed Orton in the corner. World’s Strongest Slam. The end.

WINNER: Henry, at 4:35.

A replay aired showing the DDT, the RKO counter and the finish. A graphic proclaimed that Henry had qualified for the Elimination Chamber match, making four known participants.

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. Follow him on Twitter @gregmparks for live Tweeting during Raw, Impact, and PPVs, as well as other bits of wisdom. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)

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